Reviews (14)

3 and a half stars, pleasant reading, expectations too high
He starts off his book asking the reader to read the book cover to cover. This is not typical for a do it yourself project book. We needed some help on technical questions for a windowsill and backsplash and between reading the book when we can and trying the John Bridge Forum online and asking the specific question (we were unable to find another thread with our answers) we still have no answers. We have been trying to get answers for about 3 weeks now. However, for someone trying to learn masonry this is a good book to add to your library.

Full of Information
Got this book a few weeks ago as I prepare to redo two bathrooms.Although the pictures aren't the best, the descriptions, and funny writing style make this book a wealth of knowledge.

Great tip and step by step for all tile projects!
This book has been invaluable in my bathroom remodel.It contains many tips by the experts and scientific justification for other aspects of tile setting.A must have for the more advanced tile setting projects and a definite must for shower installs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Building Details Finishing    3. Construction - General    4. Construction - Masonry    5. Crafts & Hobbies    6. Decorating    7. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. House & Home    11. House & Home / Do-It-Yourself    12. House & Home / Masonry    13. Pottery & Ceramics    14. Technology    15. Technology & Industrial Arts    16. Tile laying    17. Tiles   

Reviews (3)

Give us a sixth edition, please.
Despite the fact that this book was published in 1998 and is based on the 1994 UBC, it is still the best book on masonry design out there for the practicing engineer. As another reviewer notes, it's useless as far as the actual design is ccncerned and it does assume you know a good bit about what you are doing already, but I am at a lost to find a better book for my newbies.

Reinforced Masonry Engineering Handbook
The fatal problem is this book is NOT current to the 97 Uniform Building Code, contrary to the advertised description. It is written for the 94 Code. Therefore, it is useless and dangerous for actual design and permit. This book gives a pretty good tutorial, but asumes the reader to be an engineer already and skips key explanations of the process, showing numbers in formulas without referencing where they came from, what they mean, or what units they are measured in. Too cryptic. The reference data is scattered throughout the book, and often doesn't have a cross-reference, so it took me over an hour to read each page of problem, due to hunt-and-peck for clues. The design examples are fairly good but hard to follow, and the problem questions don't have answers or process to check your work. The subject is so complex that it would be scary to formulate a real life problem. The author left out the seismic factors on foundation design, so the answers are very wrong in earthquake areas. The 97 Code changed greatly from the 94Code, so you will be struggling to learn erroneous information.

Review of Masonry
This book provides a comprehensive explanation detailing the design standards used in masonry.This book is a must have reference guide for those who are in the field of Civil Engineering or design of masonry walls. No C.E. should be without one.It provides a necessary reference justlike the AISC Steel Structural Book or any other design code books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Engineering - Civil    4. Masonry    5. Masonry Construction    6. Reinforced Concrete Structures    7. Reinforcing bars    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technology    10. Technology & Industrial Arts    11. Building construction & materials    12. Materials science    13. Technology / Engineering / Civil   

Reviews (1)

The best concrete book available
This book is a classic.Everyone who studies or works with concrete should own this book.It is technically superior to all others, yet easy to read.It has always been my first (and sometimes, only) reference. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concrete    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Engineering - Civil    4. Methods & Materials    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Materials science    9. Technology / Construction & Construction Trades   

Reviews (11)

Small Barns Book
It was a good book to prepare for a small barn building project.

Not what was expected
Only basic info on planning a project and included plans are just a teaser to get you to purchase complete plans. There are much better general barn/shed books.

Small Barn Plans
It's marginally useful with hand drawn, black & white diagrams. You do get a sense of what building a horse barn or shed is all about. There are other reference books out there that deal with the subject in a more polished way though. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Construction - Masonry    3. House & Home / Design & Construction    4. Reference    5. Barns    6. Blueprints    7. Design & Construction    8. House & Home   

Reviews (4)

A good introduction for the would-be amateur stone mason
An excellent introduction for anyone who is interested in learning more about stone work and masonry.
Great starter book!
This book was better than I expected. I was hoping for color photographs, butit has B&W only. Doesn't get into a lot of details, but covers quite a few topics on the subject of stone masonry. I agree with previous review. Would have been great if the section on Mortaring Stone could have been more detailed. All in all, a good starting book to refer to.

Little bit of everything.
This book seems to have a bit of everything that has to do with traditional stone masonry. It shows how to build different types of buildings and objects. Pictures are only in Black and White. If your looking for a full colour glossy paged book on stone architecture this is not for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Building, Stone    3. Construction - Masonry    4. Design & Construction    5. Do-It-Yourself    6. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. House & Home    9. Masonry    10. Stone    11. Garden design & planning    12. House & Home / Design & Construction    13. TECHNOLOGY / Construction / Masonry   

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Engineering - Civil    4. Methods & Materials    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Building construction & materials    9. Structural engineering    10. Technology / Construction & Construction Trades   

Editorial Review

Michael Byrne's Read more

Reviews (26)

Not for the beginner
Like most Taunton Press publications, Setting Tile skews abit toward the art side of its trade, and it glosses over quite a few things that an absolute novice, or even a fairly skilled worker in another trade, needs in order to get a good result. As other have pointed out, he doesn't go into using mastics or epoxy-based mortars. But those seem like decisions based on his experience with the materials. He simply uses thinset. Enough said.
Very good detailed information on all aspects of tile setting
I've purchased over six tile books and this is by far the most
Another perspective
I've been setting tile for over 30 years, but studying this book was still an edification.It was filled with more information than I expected, and I found it to be very interesting and helpful.I counted 283 photographs and diagrams, although some of those were multiple diagrams within one larger diagram.As an engineer and perfectionist, I reject the myth that a professional necessarily does better work than an amateur.(The correct translation of the word amateur is one who pursues any study or art out of love instead of money.)The key to excellence is to thoroughly study and understand any undertaking beforehand, and then to allow enough time to do it as well as it can be done.So there's a reason why the term do-it-yourself often connotates a hack job - that's what you get when you don't have the patience to study the right way to do a job, and instead proceed with ignorance and impatience.This book isn't intended for someone who can't understand that once adhesive has been spread with a trowel, the tiles are placed on the adhesive.If you can't figure that one out, you need a professional.If you can't find the clear diagram on page 179 that illustrates how a membrane and backer board meet at a tub edge, you need a professional.If you can't find any of the book's references to the inferiority of pre-mixed air-drying mastics (glue) compared to latex-modified thin-set mortars, or how to mix and apply them, you need a professional.Here's one short excerpt from a five-page discussion of adhesives that starts on page 38, "organic mastics are probably the most commonly used adhesives, but they're nonetheless generally inferior to other adhesives."If you're too impatient to read this 244-page book and you just want to stick some tiles on a wall, go down to your local home center and buy a big bucket of glue and some tiles and fake it like a typical do-it-yourselfer. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Building Details Finishing    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Tile laying    8. Tiles    9. Home furnishing & decoration    10. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (4)

no help
I bought this without reading the reviews, it was a mistake.I am designing an addition and need a clear guide from forms to finishing.This isn't it.As meantioned, it is a collection of articles.While informative, there are major gaps in coverage and I am no more ready to design my foundation than before.There is more useful info on foundations in the framing books I purchased.

Disappointment
This book lacks the details for someone who is looking to actually do the work themselves.As mentioned in one of the other reviews - this book is just a composite of magazine article.Typical of magazine articles - shallow with little substance.

Just a compilation
I have a couple of other books in the "for pros by pros" series and they are great.I was disappointed in this one, however.Read more

Subjects:  1. Concrete footings    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Do-It-Yourself - General    5. Foundations    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. House & Home    8. Building skills    9. Home & House Maintenance    10. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Reviews (1)

***
Helpful for designing retaining walls... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - Masonry    2. Design & Construction    3. Engineering - Civil    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Reinforced Concrete Structures    6. Reinforced concrete constructi    7. Reinforced concrete construction    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Technology    10. House & Home / Design & Construction    11. Structural engineering   

Reviews (1)

An amateur's opinion
My title should be self-explanatory.
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Subjects:  1. Construction - Masonry    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    4. House & Home    5. Technology & Industrial Arts    6. Home & House Maintenance    7. House & Home / Design & Construction    8. HOUSE & HOME / Masonry   

Editorial Review

Well, here it is: Basic tools, basic techniques, illustrations and photographs, and all the planning and safety instructions you will need to build a variety of stone walls. This is a book that can help you beautify your back yard with the grace and texture of natural stone, or launch you on a career of reconstructing the Inca Empire or building a second Great Wall of China if you get carried away. Up to you... ... Read more

Reviews (6)

McRaven did it better!!
Charles McRaven's "Building Stone Walls" is much better. Covers all the material and techniques that Vivians book does and more! Don't waste your time on this book. If you're looking for more detail on working with stone, McCraven's book is the one.

Excellent overview; good first book on building with stone
Compact and concise, John Vivian's "Building Stone Walls" is a book that you can take with you while collecting (or buying) stone for your project, preparing the location, and building your wall. It offers a good overview of stacking stone, as well as a couple of less common ways of using stone (re-channeling moving water, for example). Best of all, it has some very practical, timesaving tips, particularly advice about when it is necessary to start with a trench and gravel base and when it is not. Very brief, minimal detail.
This book concentrates on dry stone walls, even though the title does specifically say this.Although the book does mention mortar stone walls, minimal detail and description is provided.One could not possibly build a mortar stone wall from reading this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - Masonry    2. Design & Construction    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Stone walls    7. Walls    8. DIY    9. House & Home / Design & Construction   

Subjects:  1. Construction - Masonry    2. Masonry    3. Reference    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Standards    6. Technology    7. United States    8. Structural engineering   

Reviews (5)

Great for beginers
If your looking for a book about stone masonry in general, this will give you a great primer for authentic stone masonry.He details some basic projects and gives you a great detailed how to.I was looking for something a little more advanced but I wished I had a resource like this when I was first starting out.Don't know if I agree with his technique for drystone retaining walls. He says start skinny and step back,I am a hard headed Irishman who believes that your wall should be just as wide at the base as it is tall. I will have to do some more research.
High on inspiration, a bit thin on tools
Wonderful black & white pictures of stone walls, stone arches, stone bridges and sundry projects.The author makes much of ancient Scot stone work.There are a lot of nice pen drawings used for 'step by step' construction programs.There are many, many suggestions regarding stone choice and stone placement. These comments are the best feature of the book. Finally, there are a few pages on handling large stones with hydraulic booms, pick-up trucks and front-loaders.These suggestions are not going to be found in many books.
A great guide book
A guide to the basics of stonework that concentrates on the most common projects: retaining walls, stone fences, foundations and steps, and then adds a bit more for the adventuresome: a fireplace, an arched bridge and amoon gate. A good book for the do-it-yourselfer or to learn what to lookfor in working with a professional stone mason. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Building    2. Building Engineering (Specific Aspects)    3. Building, Stone    4. Construction - Masonry    5. Crafts & Hobbies    6. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    7. General    8. Hobbies/Crafts    9. Home Improvement / Construction    10. Stone    11. Building construction & materials    12. DIY    13. House & Home / Masonry   

Reviews (1)

Fantastic for the price!
When I first bought this book I wondered if it would be out-of-date. It wasn't. Although there were many tricks I've learned that weren't in the book, I did catch many new formwork techniques from this book. I'd recommend it to anyone learning to set forms on a residential or light commercial construction site. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Concrete construction    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Engineering - Civil    4. Formwork    5. General    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Reference   

Reviews (4)

A real positive- you can do it book
This is a wonderful, inspiring book for the alternative minded owner builder. Lots of useful information.

Very practical manual for owner builders
Rob and Jaki Roy have done a nice job of organizing their cordwood manual into useful chapters for the differnet stages of owner built cordwood house construction. The included photos of other cordwood houses was bothexciting and informative.The best part of the book is how they tell youwhat products and methods they recommend highly, those they don't, andthose others have tried. A must have practical manual for anyoneconsidering building their own cordwood house!

The final word on this building method
This book is a great read on an excellent method of alternative house building.The author has written a series of books on cordwood construction and in doing so has arived at what could be called the final word on thismethod.The book is well laid out and illustrated but watch out forimportant tidbits of info. that are sometimes buried in the text . Whenread cover to cover , the reader gains both valuable information andconfidence and I highly reccomend this one to owner/builders everywhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Architecture    3. Construction - General    4. Design and construction    5. Earth sheltered houses    6. General    7. Home Improvement / Construction    8. Log-end houses    9. Masonry Construction    10. Carpentry    11. NATURE - Animals TRD PB    12. Woodworking   

Reviews (7)

Stonemasonry
I became interested in the art of stone masonry a couple of years ago.This book is by far the most excellent one I have seen, and I have researched back as far as the 1870's.Mr. Cramb is definitely an artisan beyond compare.
The 6th generation
As I am the son of the author,and also the stonemason who's work is featured in some of the pictures in the book ,I have to give the book the highest rating possible.I know my father spent at least 10 years drafting , planning and trying to find a publisher, and now that the book is out of print it is astounding to see how much its value has increased.I have the original drawings my father made (all framed of course) and also the original draft and photos that are featured in the book. I am very proud to have been a small part in what was a very succesful publication.Maybe one day I'll write a sequel !! might call it"the craft of the stonemason",but thats something I'll have to sit down and think about.

This is the book
The author provides hard and fast do's and don'ts derived from his experience of many years.If you want to learn how to build a traditional mortared stone wall this is the best book around.With or without the color photos, buy it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Architecture    3. Construction - Masonry    4. Historic Preservation    5. Methods & Materials    6. Stonemasonry    7. Technology & Industrial Arts    8. Architecture / Methods & Materials    9. Masonry   

Reviews (4)

Excellent book for typical do it yourself projects
Has simple easy instructions with pictures for construction oftypical DIY projects like pillars, patios.Excellent book!

A bit too general but adequate to get basic jobs done
With a chapter covering a project or two in each flavor of medium, this book in a general sense yeilds what you need to build basic walkways, walls, patios.On repairs of existing structures I believe it to do a much better job. A near-perfect book for OUTDOOR masonry projects
The "Book Description" review is correct when it says thatRead more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Construction - Masonry    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Dwellings    6. Home Improvement / Construction    7. Maintenance and repair    8. Masonry    9. Technology    10. Building construction & materials    11. Building skills    12. DIY   

Reviews (3)

Novice mason learned much from this book
I am a craftsman skilled in telephone, electrical and concrete work. Masonry is a new skill that I am working to acquire.
only brick works, no advise on stone masonry
I need to build a stone wall and stone patio, stone walk way and a stone trail path, so I choose this book, but I find this book is a thorough brick textbook, even someone called a stone masonry master book. What a dispointing!! Be careful when you choose this book!

Comprehensive text book of masonry building techniques
A text book aimed at persons studying to become professional masons.The writing is clear and readily understandable by professional and non professional alike.The technical information presented goes far beyond that found in most books in this field which are aimed at DIY and semi professional builders.It makes a wide range of tasks such as arch and fireplace construction accessible to anyone able to mix cement and position a brick. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Education    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Masonry    7. Masonry Construction    8. Technology    9. Building construction & materials   

Reviews (9)

Diary of self-taught mason
The experiences of Mr. Long will interest many 'would-be' masons, contemplating construction of a stone wall of any form.The book is not a 'how-to' guide as much as a 'how I figured it out' or 'how I got the rock to the top of the wall.'Those with masonry experience will probably find this unnecessary, but anyone considering a masonry adventure will find the reading well worth the effort.Mr. Long's experiments in man-handling rock, using ramps and building scaffolds are exactly what amateur masons need to read.
Valuable book
If you are considering building with stone, give this book a try. I like the author's writing style and he does a great job explaining the process.

Finally a really well written book
I rarely write a review despite the fact that I read so many books, but felt this one deserved special attention.I am looking to build a log home in Southeast Alaska and wanted to have a nice rock wall foundation and a spectacular fireplace.After reading this book I am confident that I can do most of the work myself (except the footing for the foundation) and feel confident that it will look totally professional (and be bomb proof).The book is well written, very readable, has good photos, and is probably the only book you will need to do any and all stone work.It is not a book on slip form and it is not a coffee table book - it is for building in stone. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Construction - General    3. Design and construction    4. Do-It-Yourself    5. Do-It-Yourself - Masonry    6. Domestic    7. Handbooks, manuals, etc    8. Home Improvement / Construction    9. House & Home    10. Masonry    11. Masonry Construction    12. Stone houses    13. Building construction & materials    14. House & Home / Design & Construction    15. House construction - Amateurs' manuals    16. Housing & property for the individual    17. Stone house - Design and construction - Amateur's manuals   

Reviews (1)

Improve the construction conditions in developing countries
behavior of concrete structures is very important because after terrible Earthquakes in these years engineers must try to reduce fatalities and financial losses .
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Subjects:  1. Buildings, Reinforced concrete    2. Construction - Masonry    3. Earthquake Engineering    4. Earthquake effects    5. Earthquake resistant design    6. Engineering - Civil    7. Precast concrete construction    8. Reinforced Concrete Structures    9. Reinforced concrete constructi    10. Reinforced concrete construction    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Technology    13. Technology & Industrial Arts    14. Building construction & materials    15. Structural engineering    16. Technology / Engineering / Civil